Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Yay! I am writing up a tutorial on this pen case today. Lots and lots of experiments.. but I'm glad now I can finally share the tute with you guys!! I love the shape of this guy. This is a little more time-consuming project than the two other projects I wrote tutorials on, but it's really cute, so I would like you to try! Ok, here is how I made this pen case.

Cut out 5 - 1 1/4" x 9 3/4" cotton fabrics.

Sew them together one pair at a time.(remember the seam allowance is 1/4" throughout the process)

When all the five pieces of fabrics are sewn, press seam open.

Cut out 2- 3" x 9 3/4" Wool felt.

Sew the felt to the patchwork you just made, right sides together. Press seam to one side.

Underneath the layer you just created, place a fleece batting that is a little larger than the layer and pin them together.

Machine-stitch very close to the lines separating each fabric just like this.(Fun part;))

It should look like this. (Isn't it just nice?)

Machine-baste all the edges.

Cut off the excess batting.

Cut out 1 - 9" x 9 3/4" cotton fabric for lining.

Right sides together, sew the lining fabric and the patchwork layer only the two edges parallel to the patchwork in the middle.

Just like this.

Then turn the right side out.(Very easy)

Press the two edges.

Then machine-baste the other two edges, wrong sides together.

It should look like this by now.

Now let's make a pattern for the side parts of the pen case. If you are super lazy like me, I recommend you use freezer paper, which can be easily attached to the fabric by ironing and removed to use repeatedly. But if you don't have it, just standard paper should work just fine;) Cut out a 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" square.

Measure 1/2" from each side and cut from the point to corner beneath it.

Using the pattern you just made, cut out 2 pieces of felt and 2 pieces of the lining fabric. (The pattern includes seam allowances)

For the felt pieces, attach the fleece batting that's a little bigger again and machine-baste like this.

Cut off the excess batting.

Sew the felt and the lining fabric right sides together, leaving a small opening.

Turn the right sides out and hand-stitch the opening closed.

Make a mark in the very center of the side parts as well as the big layer (the right and left sides).

Sew them together like this, making sure the mark on the side part and the mark on the layer are touching each other.(Lots of pins help!)

Do the same for the other side part too.

Now time to deal with a zipper. (Don't be scared!) Prepare a 9" zipper. For the ends of the zipper, hand-stitch like this so that the two are not separated.

Hand-baste the one side of the zipper to the pen case itself like this.

Make (or buy) a binding tape that is about 11", long enough to bind the zipper even after folding the two edges. Please refer to this tutorial for how to attach a binding tape. (By the way, I don't like this picture because it reminds me of a striped snake in the jungle or something.)

Cover up just one side of the zipper with a binding tape just like this.

Now sew the side of the side parts.

Just like this!

Now hand-baste the zipper to the other side and attach a bias tape just like you did.

Yay! You are almost there!!

Now cut out 2 - 2" x 2" squares.

Fold each side to the middle and press.

Then fold/press 1/4" edges just like this.

Hand-sew it to the both ends of the zipper.

Finish up! You are done;) Woo Hoo!!

Can you believe I used 42 pictures just for this post? If you like this tute, go ahead and share this link!!If you make one, I would LOVE to see and share yours on my blog..so let me know;)

I must say, your tutorials are the best and most detailed ones I have ever seen :o) you are so thorough. I didn't even believe that there were 42 pictures in that post - every one of them was necessary and helpful... very clear! I felt like I was making it along with you. Thank you. Have a great weekend!Linnea

love...love...love it! Now I have just got to make this one as well...you are making me a busy girl with these great tutorials you are posting..keep them coming. Promise I will make something very shortly..have chosen fabric already.

Thanks from France for this cute pen case! I was looking for a tutorial and this one is perfect!I am really willing to make one as I am going back to school (after all these years. When sewn, I'll send you pictures!

I wanted to make myself a new pen case, but couldn`t find the style I liked. But I found it now!!! I love the blue and green touch in the middle. It gives the pen case a very unique accent. I`m goin to get myself some fabirc in the next few days and make it asap!!!!

a picture says a thousand words. some of us...we creative lots esp. are visual people, so pictures, and lots of it! helps. thanks for the tute. the part on the zipper tone down my fright of it a little.

Great tutorial! Very informative in how well worded and descriptive you were! You know they say that if one knows how to describe what they want really well, then life is just as good as how you describe it :)Its great for people who feel like time is running against them and then land on your blog and feel like a whole burden was just lifted off of their shoulder.. I admire and respect people who take time to make it easier for others.. Thanks a bunch! :)

Hi There! I wanted to let you know that I used your pen case as inspiration for a make-up bag that I recently made. So I posted a link to this posting over on my blog. Feel free to check it out!! http://tlc685.blogspot.com/2009/05/drippy-day.html Thanks for sharing.

I'm a very new zipper installer .. I find it hard to follow most tuts .. this one is super .. I love that there's a method for installing a lining without having to flip the thing and leave a hole for turning!! I plan to make one to go with a handbag I'm doing for someone ... I hope it looks as good as yours!! :))

Ayumi, you are so... creative (correct word??). The fabrics you use are each time matching so it's a pleasure to look at. All tutorials are great!!!! Thanks a lot for sharing!!!!!!!Best wishes from germany, Betti :o)

Love this. I have a huge stash of felt and want to make a small bag with some, so this shape will be perfect (might make it a tad larger.) I will let you know how it turns out and probably link this tutorial on my blog when it's done!

My little daughter was telling me the other day that she wanted a new pen case and she asked me to take her to the mall and buy her one. But I think that I will make this lovely stylish pen case, thank you!

Yemek Tarifleri Thanks for this post – I have struggled with this as I have NO comments yet on my blog and in some ways feel badly about that (until i read your posts about this) and yet I see there is more that I can do. thankss.

I made a pencase with your tutorial and got an A as my final grade in textiles, so thanx for making my life easier ;) i really want to share it with you but dunno how to ... My e-mail is lana.miran@yahoo.com ,please tell me how to share it :D

Such a great idea! I made this very spur-of-the-moment, but with the fabric scraps I had it turned out great!! I didn't have a zipper, so I just put in a magnetic clasp :) You can see the pictures at randomchatterings.wordpress.com

This is what I was looking for I mean how to make a stylish pen case because my daughter want something like this but I don't want to buy one, instead of that I'm gonna make this pen case because I consider it is better than buying one.

I love this case and will definitely be making one in the future. Thank you for the easy zipper tips...for some reason I am terrified of zippers but this makes it seem not-so-scary! I do have to ask, did you make the penguin in the last photo. It is so cute! I would love to know if you made the pattern or where you it from if you made it! Thanks for all the wonderful tutorials!

Hi Mary! I hope you'll find inserting a zipper easier than you thought ;) I made the penguin using a pattern in a sewing book from the library. I don't remember the tile of the book, but it was a bit older book full of stuffed animal patterns. Sorry I can't give you a better tip..!

Just found this website via the free crafts websites and I am so excited about joining in with all the other crafter's and their idea's. This one in particular is a great start and your tutorial with pictures is brilliant! Anyone not knowing how to sew can just do everything from the photo's! Thanks for the inspiration.The tutorial is dated 2008 and I am looking at it 1/8/2012!! Happy Olympics too, I'm from London - UK!

Thanks for stopping by my blog! My name is Ayumi. I love sharing my crafty journal and other little anecdotes in my life here. I am a mother to a baby girl and a wife to my husband from Seattle. We live in a small apartment in Tokyo. I hope you enjoy being here :) Welcome♪